Creek Nation Council Oak Memorial

Fire has long been a revered element of many sacred rituals of the Mvskoke, or Muscogee Creek people. The sacred fire represents the divine masculine of the Epofvnkv, the Creator, to which all things are connected, and it was integral to religious, political, and social systems long before first European contact. Ashes of ceremonial fires from each tribal town were carried on the forced long march to Indian Territory, Oklahoma, and were rekindled here. Built with logs pointing east, west, north, and south, the sacred fires reflect the four cardinal directions and form the basis of many traditional Mvskoke concepts. Early teachings hold that the sacred fires are to burn eternally and that, if they are extinguished, the Mvskoke will perish. During rituals, dances, and prayers, smoke rises from the sacred fires into the skies, carrying the messages of the Mvskoke people to the Creator. These ceremonies are intended chiefly for the benefit of the whole community or nation rather than for personal benefit. By 1834, Mvskoke forefathers were forced from their ancestral tribal lands in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory on what is now known as the Trail of Tears, yet Mvskoke leaders ensured that their traditional legacy continued and was protected here. Assimilation into the dominant society, U.S. government policies, and the loss of elders who knew the old ways contributed to the extinction of many tribal towns. Of the 44 original tribal towns that were removed, only a few Mvskoke and Euchee tribal grounds still actively continue ancient ceremonies, keeping the sacred fires alive to this day. Each year at Council Oak, the historic meeting held here after United States government removal to re-establish tribal government is celebrated, while the struggles and successes of the Nation are remembered and the tribal towns and all Mvskoke men and women who perpetuate traditional ways and keep the ceremonial fires burning are honored. Through these ceremonial-ground traditions, later generations will know ancient customs and lifeways, and Mvskoke language, traditions, and culture have survived many destructive events.

Tulsa, Oklahoma · United States